Deep well pumping means



Feb, 33, 1934.

R. H. THOMPSON DEEP WELL PUMPING MEANS Filed Nov. 30, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor Mw/WMM 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Nov. 30, 1951 Inventor Patented Feb. 13, 1934 DEEP WELL PUMIING MEANS Robert H. Thompson, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Leo M. Harvey, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application November 30, 1931 Serial No. 578,047

5 Claims.

This invention relates to deep well pumping means, and more particularly to the provision of means for transmitting power from above the ground level to, or near, the bottom of deep wells for the purpose of elevating fluids therefrom to above the surface of the ground.

Many attempts have heretofore been made to provide means for lifting fluids, particularly oil, from wells of relatively great depths, to the surface of the ground, wherein mechanical connecting parts, such as rods, have been eliminated for the purpose of operating submerged pumps or pumping devices to force the Well fluid to the surface of the ground.

I have discovered that when it is attempted to operate a submerged pumping mechanism in a well of great depth through pressure applied intermittently to a column of fluid for the purpose of operating such a pumping mechanism, that there is set. up in the column of uid waves or surges.

I have discovered that these waves or surges set up in the column of fluid are the actual power transmitting means and must be induced and maintained in a coincidental manner, for if they are induced in opposition to each other, the result is collision and defeat the object, namely, of transmitting power.

I have discovered also that if the pressure intermittently applied to the column of uid is synchronized with the waves or surges set up in the column of fluid so that the application of pressure for the purpose of operating the pumping mechanism submerged in the well, synchronizes in direction with the movement of the surges or waves induced in the column of uid, the pumping mechanism may be operated from the surface of the ground by the application of pressure to the column of uid, and 4that the surging ofthe column of uid, or the wave motion set ,up in such a column of uid, determines the speed of application of the pressure impulses which should be applied to the column of fluid at the surface of the ground in order to operate the submerged pumping mechanism.

It is an object f my invention to provide means for pumping of fluid from within deep oil wells wherein the application of power at the surface of the ground is conveyed to the submerged pumping mechanism through the power induced in the column of fluid of pressure impulses or waves which travel from the surface of the ground to a pumping mechanism submerged within the well to operate the ,pumping mechanism andr lift the well uid from the well.

Another object of this invention is to provide means for the conversion of a downwardly applied pressure into an upwardly acting power stroke.

Another object of this invention is to provide ou Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of u the pumping mechanism embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic sectional side eleva-l tion of a modified form of the power operated ram embodied in my invention.

Figure 3 is a sectional end elevation taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure l.

Figures 4 and 5 are sectional side elevations of a modified form of the pumping mechanism em- 35 bodying my invention.

In the modification of my invention illustrated by Figure l, the -pumping mechanism consists of a motor cylinder 5 extending upwardly to form a gas dome 4. Mounted within the motor cylinder 5 is a piston 6 connected by means of connecting rod 7 to a plunger 8 of a lift pump mechanism. The pump plunger Sis adapted to reciprocate in a pump barrel 9 which is attached to the lower end 3 of cylinder 5, dome 4 is enclosed in 95 the assembled section 3 of tubing 2.I Motor cylinder 5 and dome 4 are supported within the enlarged portion 3 of the tubing 2 by any suitable or desirable means as indicated at 19.

vA ram mechanism 15 is positioned at the top of the well and the tubing 2 is filled with a uid to which intermittent pressure is imparted for the purpose of causing power strokes from the top of the well to the motor piston 6 mounted in submerged position within the well. The dome 4 is lledwith a gas or uld and provides the means for driving the motor piston 6 in a direction opliquid from. the top of the Well.

A well casing 1 is positioned within the well and the tubing 2 is concentrically mounted within the casing 1. 'Ihe gas dome 4 is closed at its lower end by the motor piston 6. The chamber 4 is supported spaced from the inner walls of the tubular member 3 by the means indicated at 19 to provide a Ifluid passage 18 through which the iiuid in the tubing 2, as well as the fluid being elevated from the well, may pass.

The closed chamber 4, or gas dome, is filled with a compressed gas or uid, the pressure of which, when the piston is in its lower position, is equal to or higher than the static head of the column of iluid in the tubing 2. ,The motor piston 6 is driven in an upwardly direction by pressure imparted to it through the column of fluid in the tubing 2 by the ram. 15. 'Ihe piston 6 is connected by means of the connecting rod 7 with the plunger 8 which is suspended in the pump barrel 9. The diameter of piston 6 is greater than the diameter of pump plunger 8.

'Ihe plunger 8, as herein illustrated, is hollow, and is ltted at its upper end withan ordinary form of working valve 20, the construction of which is well understood in the art.

The lower end of the pump barrel 9 is provided with a standing valve 10 which opens to admit fluid from the well into the pump barrel 9 as the plunger 8 is raised, but closes when the plunger 8 is lowered and the well uid is forced through the hollow plunger 8, causing the iluid in the pump barrel 9 to pass through and above the plunger 8.

The operation of the structure embodied in my invention as disclosed in Figure 1 is:

Downward movement is imparted to the column of fluid in tubing 2 by means f a suitable stroke of the ram 15, driving' the piston 6 up into the motor cylinder 5. As the piston 6 is elevated, the displaced fluid in tubingv 2 passes up into the cylinder 5, the diameter of which is greater than the diameter of the pump barrel 9, and the iiud c displaced by the plunger 8 as it is raised likewise passes up into the motor cylinder 5 below the piston 6.

As'the induced power surge recedes, the pressure of the gas within the .closed chamber or, gas dome 4 acts on the upper surface of themotor piston 6, forcing the motor piston downwardly again, with the result that the added volume of fluid displaced from the pump barrel 9 on the previous upward stroke of therplunger is displaced up through the passage 18 and the tubing 2. Thewell fluid drawn into barrel 9 by upward stroke of plunger 8 is trapped in barrel 9 by standing valve 10 and passes through working valve 20 on the downward stroke of plunger 8. The displaced well liquid is discharged from the ram cylinder 14 through an overflow connection 16 provided at the upper end of the ram cylinder 14 as the ram 15 passes by the overflow 16.

As the pressure impulses imparted to the column of duid in the tubing 2 sets up a wave orv surge in the column of duid, the stroke of ram 15 may be increased in length, until the desired length of stroke of the plunger 8 is provided for.

It is obvious that many forms of structure may be devised for reciprocating the ram 15 and for timing its operation. One form of such means I have illustrated in Figure 2. This structure includes a motor cylinder 26, the diameter of which is considerably larger than the diameter of the ram cylinder 14. A piston 24 is mounted within the cylinder 26 and is connected by means of a connecting rod 23 to the smaller piston or ram 15 mounted in the cylinder 14. A pressure pipe 29 is connected through the closed upper end of the cylinder 26, and a three-way valve is mounted in the pressure pipe 29. An operating rod 33 is connected with the piston 24 and projects through the open end of the cylinder 26 below the piston 24. The rod 33 is provided with an operating arm 28, which is adapted to engage stops 34 and 34' carried by the valve actuating rod 32, which is operatively connected to the operating lever 31.v The operating lever 31 controls the three-way valve for the purpose of opening and closing this valve in accordance with the reciprocation of the piston 24 in the cylinder 26. As the valve 30 is operated, pressure is alternately applied to and exhausted from, the cylinder 26.

In starting the operation of the pumping apparatus as above described, the valve lever 31 may be manipulated manually to adjust the reciprocation of the piston 24, and hence the ram 15, with relation to the surge or wave of the column of fluid set up in the tubing 2.

Stops 34 and 34' are adjustably secured to the rod 32 so as to enable their being adjusted properly along the rod 32 to maintain the timed synchronized action established at the start of the operation of the apparatus embodying my invention. v

In the modification of my invention illustrated 105 in Figure 1, the gas present with the well fluid within the well maybpass freely from the oil within the well through the casing 1 and is discharged through the casing head 13 secured to the upper end` of the casing 1.

In the modified form of my invention illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the casing la is connected to the casing head or control head 13a and the tubing 2a projects through the upper end of the casing head 13a through a stuiing box 35a, and 115 leads to any suitable or desirable source, not shown, of application of pressure impulses to the column of fluid maintained in the tubing 2a. The tubing 2a extends into the well and is connectedl by means of a' nipple 34a 120 to a section of tubing of enlarged diameter 3a. The lower end of the tubing 2a is connected by means of a reducingnipple 36a to the upper end of the pump barrel 9a. Surrounding the reducing nipple 36a isv a packing structure for closing 125 the space between nipple 36a and the casing including a packing ringi37a which is threaded to the end of the nipple 36a and secured in positibn, and a packing cup 38a is mounted on the reduced portion of the nipple 36a to engage pack- 130 ing ring 37a.

A packing follower 39a is threaded onto the end of the nipple 36a 'to hold the packing cup l38a in position. The nipple 36a is provided with a pluralityvof production ports 40a, through which 135 the fluid lifted from the well through the-pump barrel 9a passes into the casing la.

Mounted within the enlarged section 3a is a closed chamber or gas dome 4a, similar in all respects to the closed chamber 4, and providing at its lower end the motor cylinder 5a within which the motor piston 6a is mounted. The motor piston 6a is connected by means of a connecting rod 7a with the pump plunger 8a mounted within the pump cylinder 9a. A working valve 20a 145 is carried by the pump plunger 8a, and a standing valve 10a is mounted on the lower end of the pump barrel 9a.

In the modication of my invention shown in Figures 4 and 5, the operation is the same as 150 maaar/2e the modiiication illustrated in Figure 1 with the exception that the actuating fluid in the tubing i 2a is maintained separate from the well uid.

The actuating uid in the tubing 2a passes under the lower end of the motor cylinder 5a to the under side of the motor piston 6a, and is isolated from the well fluid, which passes through the ports 40a to within the casing la through which casing it is delivered to the surface of the well.

The casing la is connected with the control head 13a provided with branch outlets through which the well uid passes.

Means are provided for maintaining the columns of uid within the casing la and tubing 2a separate, which means may be of any suitable or desirable construction and are herein illustrated as including a stuing box 42a which is secured to the lower end of the enlarged portion 3a of the tubing 2a immediately above the nipple 36a.

Having described my invention, it is to be understood that I do not intend to be limited to the details herein set forth, but my invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a deep well pumping apparatus, a suspended tubing in which a column of fluid -is maintained, a iiuid pumping cylinder formed as an integral portion of said tubing contiguous with the lower end thereof, said tubing having an intermediate section of larger bore, a pneumatic pressure motor mounted within and concentric to the larger bore of said tubing and in alignment with said pumping cylinder, a valved plunger operatively mounted in said pumping cylinder and operatively connected to said pressure motor, and means for intermittently applying uid pressure to the iiuid column for actuating said motor.

2. In a deep well pumping apparatus, a well casing, tubing suspendedly mounted in said casing in which a column of fluid is maintained, a plunger pumping mechanism supported in the well by said tubing, a fluid pressure operated motor mounted in said tubing and operatively connected with .said pumping mechanism, a packing means carried by said pumping mechanism and arranged to form an effective uid tight seal between said pumping mechanism and the casing below the discharge ports of the pump whereby the casing acts as the fluid discharge passage for said pump, and means for intermittently` applying fluid pressure to the column of fiuid for operating said motor.

3. In a uid pumping apparatus, a suspended tube system in which a column of iiuid is maintained, a fluid pumping means carried by the pendant end of 'said tube system, a pneumatic motor cylinder mounted within said tube system and having one end in communication therewith and having the other end thereof sealed, a piston operatively mounted in said motor cylinder and arranged for operating said uid pumping means, said pneumatic motor cylinder having means for initially charging the closed end thereof when the piston is in its lowermost position with a gas pressure equal to or greater than the static head of the fluid column contained within said tube system, and means for intermittently applying pressure to the fluid column for actuating said'piston.

4. In a fluid pumping apparatus, a fluid delivery means in which a column of fiuid is maintained, a uid pumping means carried thereby, a pneumatic motor cylinder in communication at onev end with said delivery means and closed at its other end, a piston means operatively mounted in said cylinder and arranged for operating said fluid pumping means, said pneumatic motor cylinder having means for charging the closed end thereof with an initial gas pressure equal or greater than the static head of said iiuid column, and means for intermittently applying pressure to said uid column for actuating said piston.

5. In a fluid pumping apparatus, a fluid delivery means, a uid pumping means in operative communication therewith, a pneumatic motor cylinder closed at one end and communicating with the fluid delivery means at a point spaced from said closed end, a piston means operatively mounted in said cylinder and arranged for operating said fluid pumping means, means for charging said pneumatic motor cylinder with an initial gas pressure equal to or greater than the normal discharge pressure of the pumped fluid, and means for intermittently applying pressure to the uid contained within said de- -livery means.

ROBERT H. THOMPSON. 

